Update: President emails AMU over Fessio firing

As an update to the story I covered on Tuesday, this email was sent by AMU President Nick Healy to current students, staff and faculty of Ave Maria University. It was not sent to alumni.

As previously stated, Ave Maria University (AMU) is grateful to Fr. Fessio, S.J. for his past contributions to the university. We also recognize the strong personal convictions he holds and the respect he has earned in the Church.

Nevertheless, and despite the likely controversy it would occasion, the university administration concluded that Father Fessio should no longer hold a position with the university. This was discussed with the university’s Board of Trustees, which supported the decision. It is the university’s policy to refrain from going into details regarding personnel matters.

That the issues were not related to the university’s commitment to its mission should be obvious from Father Fessio’s own statement that he “will continue to recommend AMU to students and parents”. Furthermore, the already distinguished Board of Trustees was recently strengthened by the addition of the local ordinary, Bishop Frank Dewane, and Cardinal Adam Maida to the three existing clerics on the university’s Board of Trustees: Msgr. Laurence Higgins, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. and Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.

- Ave Maria University

Local newspaper Naples Daily News reports, however, that the AMU board never formally voted Fessio out:

"Ave Maria University’s board of trustees discussed firing the university’s theologian, the Rev. Joseph Fessio, at its June meeting but took no formal vote on the matter, the board’s chairman said Wednesday."

On the campus reaction:

"...with class out of session at the rural campus south of Immokalee, students and alumni are connecting on the social networking Web site Facebook and video sharing site YouTube to discuss Fessio’s fate — and what they should do about it."

On other official reaction:

"Chairman Michael Timmis would not say Wednesday whether the entire board agreed at the June meeting. He said the decision to fire Fessio was not something that required a board vote. Timmis would not cite a reason for Fessio’s firing.

“Personally, as I read the scriptures, good people can disagree,” Timmis said.

... The Diocese of Venice issued a statement this week saying that Bishop Frank Dewane was not consulted on the decision to fire Fessio.

Dewane was named to the university’s board of trustees at the same June meeting where Fessio’s firing was broached but was not a member at the time, Timmis said Wednesday."

On Fessio's plans:

"As for Fessio, he said he doesn’t plan on exiling himself from Ave Maria University.

He said Wednesday that, if administrators want him to, he is willing to continue to oversee the university’s fundraising and planning for a theater building on campus."

So there you have it. Although I'm not sure what we have here.